It is incredible to see the difference that can be made by moving to a new location, even if it is just a few miles away.
At the moment, I'm killing time at the bar at the hotel while I wait for my date to arrive. It takes him a while to get here, but as soon as he does, his grin and his sparkling eyes put a smile on my face. Following a couple of drinks, we make our way up to the suite. Yet, this is not a luxurious first date or a one-night encounter; rather, we are staying in for our vacation. On the very first night that my husband and I spent together as a married couple, we checked into the Park Lane hotel in New York City. After then, a lot of things had changed, including the property.
In Harry's New York Bar, the dark panelled wood that had been there when I celebrated in 2017 had been removed and replaced with a modern atmosphere that featured neon lighting and walls covered in live plants. That appeared to be a success, as evidenced by the full house. For the most part, as a local New Yorker, I looked down my nose at visitors; but, there were times when I secretly relished playing the part of a tourist. Although though it was only four miles away from my flat, I considered it to be a mini-getaway if I went to a hotel that was located directly on Central Park.
In point of fact, it was something that I had fantasized about ever since I was a little child. In "Barefoot in the Park," which is one of my all-time favourite movies, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford play honeymooners who are staying at the Plaza Hotel. At the conclusion of their week-long staycation, during which they did not leave the house once, Paul (played by Redford), who went back to work, and they make plans to meet in their new apartment on the Upper East Side.
Even though I resided in New York City, the prospect of spending a night as an adult in a place like the Plaza looked intriguing to me. But over time, we started to forget about that memories from our youth.
Now, thirty years later, I was at last getting the opportunity to experience a version of that once-upon-a-time movie fantasy.
During this break, my family and I also made a trip to the Plaza, which was beautifully decorated for the winter season. We became lost in Central Park, investigating nooks and crannies we had never seen before, much like exploring the streets of a new city for the first time.
At first, the concept of a staycation was born out of absolute need. From the beginning of the epidemic, my spouse and I have exercised an exceptional amount of caution, and flying is no longer an option for us. Leaving behind our Goldendoodle was a difficult decision for both of us. That meant finding ways to bring our dog along with us on our vacations, whether that meant travelling to a leased house outside of the city or searching for hotels that allowed pets.
In the fall of 2020, when I reached 40 years old, my husband surprised me by taking me to a luxurious hotel in Brooklyn for the weekend. It was one of the finest gifts, and it turned into a tradition in my family that I now hold dear.
The travel plans and dreams I had to contend with increasingly complex challenges. Our family was brought to a grinding halt by the IVF treatments that lasted for two years. Because to the seemingly never-ending number of appointments, scheduled retrievals, and requirements of the process, it was typically impossible to arrange anything in advance.
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Not only did the feeling of being in charge fade away, but other things did as well. The transformation of pleasure into purpose has an effect on the intimacy. Although though we tried to conceive on our own twice, both times were unsuccessful, we decided to try IVF because it would supposedly eliminate the need for our physical connection. Trauma associated with fertility can permeate even the most mentally sound mindsets and the most secure marriages.
It seemed as though there was no way off the ongoing roller coaster, that is, until we took a staycation, and it surprisingly brought back a certain thrill. Before that, it appeared as though there was no way off the roller coaster. It breathed new life into aspects of our relationship that had grown stale due to inactivity.
It's possible that you'll feel pressured to make the most of your time off while you're on vacation. If you've ever heard someone remark, "I need a break from my vacation," then you have some idea of what I'm talking about here.
On the other hand, when you stay at home for your vacation, everything seems natural. There is neither pressure nor expectation placed on you. It's a temporary escape from the harshness of the real world, but you're still not all that removed from it.
A mental and physical escape from the never-ending anguish of trying to conceive a child is exactly what we need right now. We are a family of three embarking on a journey where there is no requirement for anything to be fixed or figured out.
It is a time to be present — the cliched decadence of ordering room service in bed or enveloping yourself in a giant, soft blanket — the kind that feels like a cloud you can stay inside of. It is a time to indulge in the cliched decadence of ordering room service in bed or enveloping yourself in a giant, soft blanket. You probably don't have a luxurious bathrobe at your house, and even if you had, you probably only use it for drying yourself after you get out of the shower. Here is an invitation to lay around in one. But, in this location, it is a luxury that is meant to be appreciated and enjoyed.
The idea that you don't have to travel very far in order to undergo a change is exciting, but it's also quite convenient. A little trip to a location where the pressures and worries of everyday life disappear for a little while.
As a present for our sixth wedding anniversary, the three of us went back to The William Vale in Brooklyn to spend the night there together. We had a lot of responsibilities in real life, but while I was on a staycation, my anxieties ended as I saw the "Do Not Disturb" sign. Time, which had been one of my primary concerns up until that point, seemed to have no bearing on the situation any longer.
In the neighborhood watering hole for people who own dogs, Lucky Dog, we kicked back with spiked ciders and relaxed. Dinner was a takeout order from the Italian restaurant Antica Pesa, which is located nearby. While we watched a scary movie on the hotel bed, I indulged in my go-to dish, cacio e pepe, which was served to me on a tray. Devices and the constant motion that comes with household life are typically included in all of this. In contrast, there was no need for people to be distracted from one another here. I was in a relaxed state of mind.
Paradoxically, our apartment building could be seen across the river from the balcony, which was located directly outdoors. Even though we were separated by sea, the distance between us felt insurmountable. The following morning, after getting some coffee, we crossed the Williamsburg Bridge on our way back home.
These short stays at home have proven to be really beneficial for us. These have strengthened our connection and brought to my attention the fact that there are times when you can romanticise your life and relationship without any effort on your part. It only requires a short distance to separate you from your house.